Moong dal pakoda/lentil fritters

BEST GAJAR KA HALWA BY SANJEEV KAPOOR

VEGETABLE PAKORA RECIPE

Ingredients:

1 cup Chickpea Flour (Besan)
2 tsp Oil
1 tsp Ground Cumin
1 1/2 tsp Salt
1 -2 Chopped Green Chillies (Jalapeno)
1/2 cup Water
1 Potato
1 small Cauliflower
2 Cabbage
5 leaves Spinach sliced
1 1/2 cup Sliced Onion

 

How to make vegetable pakora:

• Boil the potato until just tender, peel and chop finely.
• Finely chop cauliflower and onion. Shred the cabbage and spinach.
• Mix first set of ingredients well. Beat in a blender for 4-5 minutes to incorporate air (this will make the batter fluffier).
• Let batter rest 1/2 hour in a warm place
• Add the vegetables and mix in evenly.
• Deep fry in oil that is heated to 375°.
• Drain pakoda on paper towels and serve immediately.
• Serve vegetable pakora with coriander or mint chutney or tomato ketchup

CHINESE CHILI CHICKEN RECIPE

Ingredients for chines chilli chicken:

500 -600 gm Boneless Chicken
2 tbsp Soya Sauce
1 Egg
2 tbsp Corn Flour/Corn Starch
5-6 Chopped Green Chilies
2 Green Onion Chopped
1 tsp Garlic Paste
Salt to taste
1/2 tsp White Pepper Powder
1 tsp Sugar
A pinch of ajinomoto
2 cups chicken Broth/ Water
1 tbsp Oil
Oil to fry 

 

Preparation:

• Cut the boneless chicken pieces into1 " cubes.
• Take 1tbsp. Soya sauce, 1tbsp. corn flour, salt, egg in a bowl and marinate chicken pieces in the the mixture for about 10-15 minutes.
• Heat oil and deep fry the marinated chicken pieces till golden brown.
• Now in a separate wok / kaddish heat 1 tbsp. oil and add garlic paste and green chilies and sauté for few seconds.
• Add 2 cups of chicken broth or water. Bring to boil and add sugar, pepper powder, salt , ajinomoto and remaining Soya sauce.
• Add fried chicken pieces to it and cook for few minutes.
• Dissolve the remaining corn flour in 1/2 cup water and add to the curry stirring constantly to avoid lumps.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes.
• Serve chines chili chicken hot garnished with chopped green onion tops.
• Chinese chili chicken goes well with steamed / boiled rice.

CHICKEN BIRYANI

Ingredients: 

2 cups Basmati Rice

3/4 kg Chicken Pieces
1/2 cup Milk
1 cup Yogurt (curd)
3 sliced onion
1 tsp Ginger Paste
1/2 tsp Garlic Paste
1 tsp Green Chilli Paste
1/2 cup Tomato Puree
2 tsp Red Chilli Powder
1 tsp Turmeric Powder
1 tsp Roasted cumin powder
2 tsp Garam Masala Powder
1/2 tsp Green Cardamom Powder
Saffron a pinch
1 tsp Coriander Powder
2 tbsp Green Coriander Leaves
Salt to taste
7 tbsp Oil 

Method:

• Mix tomato puree, yogurt, ginger garlic paste, green chilli paste, red chilli powder, turmeric powder, roasted cumin powder, garam masala, coriander powder and salt. Stir well.
• Marinate the chicken with this mixture and keep aside for 3-4 hours.
• Heat oil in a pan. Fry the onions until golden brown.
• Add the marinated chicken and cook for 10 minutes.
• Add 4 cups of water to the rice. Mix saffron in milk and add to it.
• Add cardamom powder. Add the chicken pieces.
• Pressure cook the rice. Mix gently.
• Garnish with green coriander leaves and serve hot.

Butter chikan

Serves : 2
Cooking time : 50 mins

 


Ingredients:

300 gms Chicken breast boneless Marinate: 1 -2 tsp hung thick curd 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp tandoori masala 1/4 tsp tandoori color Curry: 2 tblsp Butter 2 tsp garlic paste 1 green chilly sliced 1/2 tsp Cumin powder 1/2 tsp Red chilly powder 1 tsp Salt 6 or 1/2 kg Tomato 10 Cashewnuts 1 Big tblsp Tomato Ketchup 1/2 tsp Sugar 1/4 cup Water 1/2 cup milk 2 tblsp Cream 1/4 tsp garam masala 1 tsp fenugreek crushed Finely chopped coriander leaves

300 gms Chicken breast boneless Marinate: 1 -2 tsp hung thick curd 1 tsp salt 1/2 tsp red chilli powder 1 tsp tandoori masala 1/4 tsp tandoori color Curry 2 tblsp Butter 2 tsp garlic paste 1 green chilly sliced 1/2 tsp Cumin powder 1/2 tsp Red chilly powder 1 tsp Salt 6 or 1/2 kg Tomato 10 Cashewnuts 1 Big tblsp Tomato Ketchup 1/2 tsp Sugar 1/4 cup Water 1/2 cup milk 2 tblsp Cream 1/4 tsp garam masala 1 tsp fenugreek crushed Finely chopped coriander leaves

How to make authentic butter chicken :

• In a bowl take all the ingredients under the marinate head and the chicken pieces.The chicken pieces should be 1" inch in size. Mix well and keep aside for atleast 2 - 3 hrs
• Blanch, peel and puree the tomatoes. Keep aside.
• Soak the cashewnuts for 2 - 3 hrs in hot water and then strain and grind the cashewnuts into a fine paste.
• For the curry heat the pan and add butter and immediately add the garlic paste.
• Now add the sliced green chilly. Also add cumin powder, red chilly powder and salt. Add 1 tblsp water and mix well.
• Add the tomato puree and cook till the gravy leaves the side.
• Lower the flame and add the cashewnut paste and stir constantly.
• Now add the tomato ketchup, sugar and 1/4 cup water.
• Meanwhile in a separate pan shallow fry the marinated chicken pieces for 4 - 5 minutes. If overcooked then the chicken will get hard and stiff. Keep aside.
• Once the gravy comes to a boil add the chicken pieces. And cook for a minute.
• Now lower the flame add the milk and stir well. Cook for another minute and then add the cream. Mix well
• Now add the garam masala and crushed fenugreek leaves. Mix well.
• Transfer the chicken to a serving bowl and garnish with chopped coriander leaves, crushed fenugreek leaves and swirls of cream.
• Restaurant style Indian butter chicken is ready to be served with naan or tandoori roti. Authentic butter chicken is a very high calorie dish yet very very tasty. So dig in
 

Note: 
1. Milk should be at room temperature before adding to the gravy.
2. Add milk and cream at low flame only.
3. Add the garam masala only at the end.

Chcken Croquettes

Total Time: 55 min
Prep: 25 min
Cook: 30

Ingredients:
Croquettes:
1 cup milk
1 cup fresh chicken stock (canned broth may be substituted)
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
2 teaspoons freshly chopped parsley leaves
Salt, to taste (only if using fresh chicken stock)
1/4 pound butter
1 stalk celery, minced
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/4 pounds chicken meat, cooked and ground in food processor

Breading:
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 cups all-purpose flour or cracker meal
3 cups bread crumbs

Chicken Gravy:
3 tablespoons butter
2 cups chicken stock
3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Pinch white pepper and salt
Salad oil or liquid shortening, for frying
Mashed potatoes, for serving

Directions:

Croquette Batter:
In a heavy pot, heat the milk and stock on the stove and then add white pepper, fresh parsley and salt, if needed. In a separate heavy pot melt the butter and add the minced celery. Stir in the flour and cook for 3 minutes. Pour in the hot milk and stock and stir until thickened and smooth. Fold in the chicken meat and allow to cool.

Breading Croquettes:
Shape 3 ounce portions of croquette batter in the shape of a cone and place on a tray lined with waxed paper. Next make an egg wash from the eggs, milk and salt. Dip the croquettes in the egg wash then into flour and let stand a few minutes. Finish breading by dipping the croquettes back into the egg wash and then rolling in bread crumbs.

Chicken Gravy:
Melt the butter in a 1 or 2 quart saucepan, and stir in the flour. Pour in the stock and whisk until smooth. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. Add the fresh parsley, white pepper and salt, to taste (if fresh stock was used).

Cooking:
Fry the croquettes in a pot with salad oil or liquid shortening, heated to 350 degrees F, until golden brown (2 to 3 minutes). Drain well and blot on paper towels. Place on a bed of mashed potatoes and top each croquette with chicken gravy.